Chesley

On January 9, 2007, OFFICER TROY L. CHESLEY, SR., beloved son of Joyce and John Chesley, devoted father of Troy, Jr., Trayvon, Ryan, Chasity and Rayvn. Friends may call at the family owned MARCH FUNERAL HOME WEST INC., 4300 Wabash Ave. on Sunday and Monday from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M., where the family will receive friends from 1 P.M. to 4 P.M. The family will also receive friends on Tuesday at New Shiloh Baptist Church, 21 N. Monroe Street at 10 A.M., followed by funeral service at 11 A.M.

By Melissa Harris and Melissa Harris,melissa.harris@baltsun.com | January 1, 2009

The 23-year-old Baltimore man convicted of killing an off-duty city detective in a robbery attempt outside his girlfriend's home was sentenced yesterday to life in prison without parole. In issuing the sentence for the murder of Detective Troy Lamont Chesley Sr., Baltimore Circuit Judge Timothy Doory described Brandon Grimes as a "cruel and cowardly criminal" whom the citizens of Baltimore had "every reason to fear" for "every day of his adult life." Chesley's mother, Joyce, began sobbing on the stand, and a detective stepped in to finish reading her written remarks.

Karen Chesley had a hat trick -- including two goals in the second half -- and added an assist as visiting Towson State (7-4) powered past Drexel, 11-6, in an America East women's college lacrosse game yesterday in Philadelphia.Towson took a 3-1 lead during a four-minute surge at the midpoint of the first half. Megan Drake (two goals, two assists) opened the scoring at 19: 43 and closed it with 5: 52 left in the game.Drexel pulled within one goal twice in the first half -- 3-2 at 9: 41 and 4-3 at 6: 54 -- before Towson scored three unanswered goals in the second half -- starting with Amy Buck's at the 25: 39 mark -- to build a 9-4 advantage.

By Tricia Bishop and Tricia Bishop,tricia.bishop@baltsun.com | August 30, 2008

After deliberating a little more than three hours over two days, a Baltimore jury yesterday found Brandon Grimes, 23, guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of city police officer and father of five Troy Lamont Chesley Sr. Grimes, who was also convicted yesterday of illegal gun possession and using a handgun to commit a violent crime, could receive a combined maximum sentence of life in prison without parole plus 20 years, said Joseph Sviatko,...

Alvin Chesley Wilson Jr., a retired publicist and highly decorated World War II Navy veteran, died of of heart failure Monday at Genesis Elder Care Center in Annapolis. The Annapolis resident was 79.Mr. Wilson was commissioned as an ensign in 1940 and was assigned to the USS Marblehead. The ship was badly damaged by Japanese air attacks during the Battle of the Java Sea, and he remained aboard throughout the vessel's 13,000-mile voyage back to the United States.He was twice awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal.

A city police officer allegedly caught on videotape swinging at or hitting a spectator during the Preakness on Saturday lost his police powers after an internal hearing yesterday and was assigned to administrative duties. Police officials said Officer Troy Chesley, 29, an eight-year veteran, will remain on administrative duty pending the outcome of an internal investigation. The videotape shows Chesley and other officers trying to control a melee involving between 10 and 15 people in the infield of Pimlico Race Course, and the fight appears to be getting out of hand when Chesley is seen swinging at a spectator with something in his hand or with both hands, police officials said.

Some of the images of Baltimore Detective Troy L. Chesley Sr. that flashed on screens above the pulpit made people laugh. In one, he is bare-chested, belly out and wearing white swim trunks. Another shows him as a boy, with a silly grin and eyes as big as grapes. Others shown at his funeral yesterday revealed his serious side. Posing for a portrait as a young police officer, he looked straight into the camera with a stony expression. Later, he stood with chin up, leaning against a patrol car with other members of the Western District.

The funeral for Baltimore Police Detective Troy Lamont Chesley, who was fatally shot during an apparent robbery this week, will be held Tuesday at New Shiloh Baptist Church, 2100 N. Monroe St. Interment will be at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, 200 Padonia Road in Timonium. Viewings will be held Sunday and Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at March Funeral Home, 4300 Wabash Ave. Chesley, 34, graduated from City College in 1990 and joined the police force in 1993. He served in various patrol districts, in the tactical squad and in the housing unit.

The picture of Troy Chesley in his City College high school yearbook shows a thin young man with big eyes and a serious expression. Under plans, he wrote "become successful." Chesley achieved his goal, his colleagues say. He joined the Baltimore police force, where he was commended for saving a woman from a burning house and later hand-picked to join an undercover narcotics unit. He had children, including two boys. Yesterday, Chesley was shot to death in what police said was a botched robbery outside his girlfriend's home in Northwest Baltimore.

By Melissa Harris and Melissa Harris,melissa.harris@baltsun.com | January 1, 2009

The 23-year-old Baltimore man convicted of killing an off-duty city detective in a robbery attempt outside his girlfriend's home was sentenced yesterday to life in prison without parole. In issuing the sentence for the murder of Detective Troy Lamont Chesley Sr., Baltimore Circuit Judge Timothy Doory described Brandon Grimes as a "cruel and cowardly criminal" whom the citizens of Baltimore had "every reason to fear" for "every day of his adult life." Chesley's mother, Joyce, began sobbing on the stand, and a detective stepped in to finish reading her written remarks.

By Melissa Harris and Melissa Harris,melissa.harris@baltsun.com | August 29, 2008

By returning fire and wounding his assailant in the leg, Detective Troy Lamont Chesley Sr. "marked" Brandon Grimes as his killer, prosecutor Kevin Wiggins told a Baltimore jury yesterday during closing arguments in the first-degree murder trial. "Troy Chesley shot the person who tried to kill him," Wiggins said. The prosecutor walked to the witness box, sat down in it and, taking on Chesley's persona, spoke into the microphone: "Brandon Grimes murdered me." On the final day of the two-week trial, Grimes took the witness stand in his defense, saying that he had been at his girlfriend's house on the night of the shooting, went to meet a friend, Kelly Carter, in a patch of woods nearby, and then suddenly "shots rang out."

The ex-girlfriend of a man charged with killing an off-duty Baltimore police officer testified yesterday that the defendant playfully pointed a 9mm semiautomatic pistol at her and "clicked" it moments before he left their Dodge Caravan without explanation on the night of the shooting Kelly Carter testified that she watched her boyfriend at the time, Brandon Grimes, turn the corner onto Fairfax Road in Northwest Baltimore. Then, she said, she heard shots fired. Worried that Grimes had been shot, she pulled the van around the corner but saw no one, she said.

The prosecution of a man charged with killing an off-duty Baltimore police officer suffered a setback yesterday when a judge ruled that jurors could not hear evidence linking the defendant to a carjacking days before the homicide. Brandon Grimes goes on trial today for the fatal shooting of Detective Troy Lamont Chesley Sr. During a motions hearing yesterday, Circuit Judge Timothy Doory ruled that prosecutors will not be allowed to present evidence of the carjacking for fear it would prejudice the jury.

The trial for a man charged with killing an off-duty Baltimore police officer last year was postponed yesterday because the prosecutor was busy in another trial. But the suspect, Brandon Grimes, went to trial yesterday on an unrelated handgun charge before Circuit Judge Wanda K. Heard. The trial is expected to conclude early next week. A trial on the charges related to the killing of Detective Troy Lamont Chesley Sr. has been rescheduled for Aug. 13. Grimes also faces charges in three other unrelated cases involving a shooting, a carjacking and a handgun.

A man charged with killing an off-duty city police officer this year is seeking to change his plea from "not guilty" to "not criminally responsible," court documents show. With the request to change his plea comes a trial delay. Yesterday, the Baltimore Circuit Court trial for Brandon Grimes was postponed from Sept. 11 to Nov. 2. Grimes is a 22-year-old with a long arrest record who is accused of fatally shooting Detective Troy Lamont Chesley Sr. in what might have been a robbery attempt.

Donta Robinson and Jamal Carter had just parked their car in West Forest Park when a man with a gun came up and yelled, "Get down." The gunman took Robinson's wallet and keys, and drove away with his 2005 Mercury. Robinson rushed to a neighbor's house and called the police. Officers found Robinson's car a few blocks away, but they didn't find a suspect. They also didn't take a report, dismissing the complaint as unfounded. That was Jan. 5. Four days later, police believe, the same gunman killed Officer Troy Chesley in a shootout that took place blocks away from the carjacking.

By Tricia Bishop and Tricia Bishop,tricia.bishop@baltsun.com | August 30, 2008

After deliberating a little more than three hours over two days, a Baltimore jury yesterday found Brandon Grimes, 23, guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of city police officer and father of five Troy Lamont Chesley Sr. Grimes, who was also convicted yesterday of illegal gun possession and using a handgun to commit a violent crime, could receive a combined maximum sentence of life in prison without parole plus 20 years, said Joseph Sviatko,...

A man charged with killing an off-duty city police officer this year is seeking to change his plea from "not guilty" to "not criminally responsible," court documents show. With the request to change his plea comes a trial delay. Yesterday, the Baltimore Circuit Court trial for Brandon Grimes was postponed from Sept. 11 to Nov. 2. Grimes is a 22-year-old with a long arrest record who is accused of fatally shooting Detective Troy Lamont Chesley Sr. in what might have been a robbery attempt.

The investigation into who killed Detective Troy Chesley moved quickly. Within hours of his death, police found a suspect, witnesses and the weapon used in the killing - a Sig Sauer handgun customized with a laser targeting system. The serial number: U540876. At a news conference held the day Chesley died, police commanders angrily complained that the suspect, Brandon Grimes, had been arrested 17 times - twice for handgun possession - yet was still on the street. But police later learned some disturbing news: The gun used to kill Chesley in January had slipped through their hands - twice.

Researchers probing the roots of autism say they've found fresh evidence that the disorder, like cancer, could be a tough one to conquer. That's because it's really a constellation of related diseases - with a wide range of genetic underpinnings. In a study released today, scientists say that children who are the sole cases of autism in their families are five times more likely to have a particular genetic mutation than autistic youngsters in families in which the disorder has shown up repeatedly.